Key-ring holder



Dec. 7 1926. v 1,609,347

L. DEE

KEY RING HOLDER I Filed Feb. 16. 1925 r-ocular. LESLIE DEE.

Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

LESLIE DEE, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

KEY-RING HOLDER.

Application filed February My invention relates to key ring holders, and has for its object to devise a simple and'ellective holder which can-be stamped up from a metal strip and which will have the advantages of positively preventing the accidental removal of the key ring while it is adaptedto be operated in the simplest and most convenient manner to permit the detachment of the key ring from or its remounting on the holder.

My invention further contemplates so designing the holder that it can be formed cheaply from a single strip of metal in one stamping and forming operation so that it can be very cheaply produced.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction and arrangements of parts, which in their preferred embodiment only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whicl1:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the key ring holder.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central'cross-sectional view showing the manner in which the accidental removal of the key ring is prevented.

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, showing the manner of removal from or replacement on the holder of a key ring.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

As shown, my key ring is formed of a single strip of sheet metal and is provided with an inner or back leg 1 with its end 2 inturned and adapted to engage the middle leg 3 of the holder so as to form a garment engaging clasp or a belt loop. By this arrangement the holder may be mounted on a "belt or applied directly to the waist band of the trousers. The middle leg 3 of the holder has its lower end bent up wardly and back upon it to form the outer leg 4, the tip end 5 of which is curved away from the middle leg 3 and an elongated slot 6 is formed in this leg 4 extending from the tip 5 a substantial distance towards the bend where the loop is formed and in which the key ring 7 normally hangs freely. I strike up from the middle web 3 an elongated spring tongue 8 having its free end towards the key end loop :and having its: central portion arched outwardly so that its body portion rises through the slot 6 and its free end 9 extends slightly under the lower end wall of the slot and is held by 16, 1925. Serial No. 9,410.

its tension tightly pressed against the under side of the leg 4. Fig. 3 shows the normal I position of this tongue and indicates clearly. how the free end 9 of the tongue 8 is pressed against the under side of the front leg 4 so that the key ring, 7 as it tends to work up between the legs 3 and 4 cannot work between the end 9 and the leg 4 and thus accidentally escape. As Fig. 3 indicates, if the key ring works up from full line to dotted line position its escape will be positively prevented by its engagement with the root end of the tongue 8 which will stop it. sary to depress the arched center of the leg 8 so that its tip 9 will drop into the slot 10 from which it was struck up and when in this position, as the key ring is drawn up,

it will ride up over the tongue 8 and is free to pass out between the tongue and the le 4.

It is essential to the successful operation of my invention that the free end of the tongue 8 shall be towards the lower end of the holder and that its free end shall stand in such position that the key ring working up will not tend to gain position between it and the front leg 4. Also, it is essential that this leg shall not project beyond the 8 holder and shall be so arched as to permit the user to readily depress its tip 9 with his thumb as he grasps and draws up the key ring with his fingers. This permits a very simple and ready removal and obviously the tongue presents no interference with the replacement of the key ring which can be forced down between the leg 4 and the tongue 8 until it clears the tongue, and when the latter is released it springs back into position against the outer leg 4, as shown in Fig. 3.

Though I have described with great particularity the details of the embodiment of my invention herein shown, it is not to be construed that I am limited thereto, as changes in arrangement and substitution of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A key ring holder comprising a bent metal body having a back leg and a middle leg adapted to engage between them a garment support and having an upturned front To remove the key ring it is necesleg, there being an elongated slot in the front leg, and there being a spring tongue struck up from the metal of the middle leg opposite said slot with its free end disposed downward, said tongue being arched outwardly so that its body portion projects through said'elongated slot in the front leg with its free end normally disposed at the lower end of said slot free to be depressed into the slot from which it was struck up in the middle leg to permit a key ring to pass out between it and the outer leg.

2. A key ring holder comprising a bent metal body having a back lega-nd a middle leg adapted to engage between them a garment support and having an upturned front leg which is bent to bring its free end close,

to the middle leg, there being an elongated slot in the front leg, and there being a spring @ngue but slightly longer than said 20 slot which is struck up from the middle leg with its free end disposed downward, said tongue being throughout arched outwardly so that practically its whole body portion projects through and beyond said elongated 25 into the slot from which it wasstruck up in 30 the middle leg to permit a key ring to pass out between it and the outer leg.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa- Euro.

LESLIE DEE. 

